ACCOUNT 
and Christian charity; and in her 
dying moments, my mother being 
present, and voucher of the fact, 
she breathed out her soul in a kind 
of beatic vision, exclaiming in rap- 
ture as she expired—It 7s all bright, 
#t és all glorious !” 
Account of the Tiranna. 
¢¢ Count Pietra Santa, lieutenant 
colonel of the Italian band of body- 
guards, was my most dear and inti- 
mate friend; by that name in its 
truest and most appropriate sense, 
I must ever remember him, (for he 
is now no more) and though the 
days that I passed with him in 
Spain did not out-number those of a 
single year, yet in every one of 
these I had the happiness to enjoy 
so many hours of his society, that in 
his case, as in that of the good old 
abbe Curtis, whilst we were but 
young in acquaintace, we might be 
fairly said to be cld in friendship. 
It is ever matter of delight to me, 
when I can see the world disposed 
to pay tribute to those modest un- 
assuming characters, who exact no 
tribute, but in plain and pure sim- 
plicity of heart recommend them- 
selves to our affections, and borroav- 
ing nothing from the charms of wit, 
or the display of genius, exhibit 
virtue—in itself how lovely. Such 
was my deceased friend, a man, 
whom every body with unanimous 
assent denominated the good Pietra 
Santa, whom every body loved, for 
he that ran could read him, and 
who together with the truest cou- 
rage of a soldier and the highest 
principles of honour, combined such 
moral virtues with such gentle man- 
ners and so sweet a temper, that he 
seemed destined to give the rare ex- 
ample of a human ereature, in 
whom no fault could be discovered. 
‘$ In this society I could not fail 
OF BOOKS. 1079 
to pass my hours of relaxation very 
much to my satisfaction, without ~ 
resorting to public places or asseth- 
blies, in which species of amusement 
Madrid was very scantily provided, 
*for there was but one theatre for 
plays, no opera, and a most unsocial 
gloomy style of living seemed to 
characterise the whole body of the 
nobles and grandees. Iwas not 
often tempted to the theatre, which’ 
was small, dark, i!l-furnished, and 
ill-attended, yet when the celes 
brated tragic actress, known by the 
title of the Tiranna. played, it was 
a treat, which I should suppose no. 
other stage then in Kurope could 
compare with. That extraordinary. 
woman, whose real name Ido not res 
member, and whose real origin can~ 
not be traced, till it is settled 
from what particular nation or peo- 
ple we are to deriye the vutcast race 
of gipsies, was not less formed to 
strike beholders with the beauty 
and commanding majesty of her 
person, than to astonish all that 
heard -her by the powers that 
nature and art had combined. to 
give her. My friend, count Pietra 
Santa, who had honourable access 
to this great stage heroine, inti- 
mated to her the very high expecta- 
tion I had formed of her perform~ 
ances, and the eager desire I had to 
see her in one of her capital charac- 
ters, iclling her at the same time 
that) I had been a writer for the 
stage in my own country: in conse- 
quence of this intimation she sent 
me word that { should have notice 
from her when she wished me to 
come to the theatre, till when, she 
desired L would not present myself 
in my box upon any night, though 
her name might be inthe bill, for it 
was only when she liked her part, 
and was in the humour to play well, 
that she wished me to be present. 
3Z4 “ Tn 
